What do you guys think of this 914?, Thinking about buying it Options

[Brando]

QUOTE (terrymason @ Nov 24 2005, 11:26 PM)

QUOTE (Dead Air @ Nov 24 2005, 09:15 PM) Try not to get a "75 or '76 or a '71 or '72 I know that the earlier ones had the tail shifter, but why are 75 &76's bad? Is it just because of the smog requirements?

Smog requirements and they're at least 200lbs heavier (closer to 2400lbs stock). Think about it... you go from bumpers that wiegh at most 20lbs to bumpers that weight about 98lbs each, plus 5lbs per bumper shock, and the doors are heavier.

[type47]

there are about 20 914ers in the NOVA area so someone should be available to look at the car with you. 1973914 took his car apart and built it up so he would be an excellent resource. root and jimkelly are in the ashburne/sterling area, also 914ers with alot of experience. i do, however, agree that it's more of a parts car and for the work required to bring it up to snuff would be monumental. i also encourage saving "all" 914s as they are very hard to find on the east coast. welcome to the area and when next DE season comes around, come to the tech sessions to meet a bunch of p-car crazies!

oh yea.... put hershey on your calendar (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/wink.gif) (late april in PA)

[jimkelly]

I will say this - you can easily spend $5000 on a beater car and parts alone (not including any labor) - only to have a car that has a market value of maybe $3000 (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/idea.gif)

I paid $1500 for mine that came with a parts car. Mine needed an engine ($900 1976 2.0L), clutch, pressure plate, flywheel, speedo, brake cables, some floor board metal welded in, ecu, mps, tranny ... I can go on and on - AND mine was not in that bad of shape (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/smile.gif)

Bottom line is buy the best you can afford - ($4000-$6000) - some real good deals show up from time to time and with shipping from even CA is about $1500 still makes some a real good deal.

Otherwise you better have a large heated garage, lots of tools, time, talent, and/or talented friends (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/aktion035.gif)

If you see mine - you'll understand what I mean - It's got a face only a mother ould love - kinda like paying $3000 for a heart transplant on a $5 parakett (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/screwy.gif)

Jim

[1973914]

Unless the guy has no idea what he has and that rust is only superficial (which would be a mircale looking a that tub) then $1000 is getting you $5k at least worth of additional expense. Honestly - the chance of that car being that cheap and only having another $1k of work left to do is very slight. That said, would still be willing to look at the car with you if you like. Let us know what you would like to do.

Bill

[grasshopper]

QUOTE (terrymason @ Nov 24 2005, 03:30 PM)

I'm good with cars in general (I'm really a Jeep guy, but looking to branch out), and can do the easy bondo style body work - I don't want to get into any frame stuff though.

bondo style body work??? you dont mean patching rust holes with it do you?? (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/ohmy.gif)

[Jeffs9146]

QUOTE

I assumed that anything I get would probably cost me another $1000 or so in repairs.

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/av-943.gif)

Add at least two zeros to that number and you have a good daily driver from that tub if you don't know how to weld.

Sorry, I would not attempt this unless you are a skilled welder and have a lot of free time on your hands.

$.02

PS: you could get this one dirt cheep and use the parts on a better tub!

[scotty b]

QUOTE (grasshopper @ Nov 26 2005, 05:26 PM)

QUOTE (terrymason @ Nov 24 2005, 03:30 PM) I'm good with cars in general (I'm really a Jeep guy, but looking to branch out), and can do the easy bondo style body work - I don't want to get into any frame stuff though. bondo style body work??? you dont mean patching rust holes with it do you?? (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/ohmy.gif)

Absolutley that's what he means! I werk on Jeeps in addition to the Euro cars and you wouldn't beleive what Jeepers do to get past an inspection. (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/blink.gif) I have seen more than my fair share of "appropriated" street signs carved up, pop-rivited to the floor and coverd with fiberglass. Do they clean the paint off of the surrounding area?? HELL NO! Gotta luvem though. Only guys more hardcore about their vehicles than VW guys

[wbergtho]

Rich took the words right out of my mouth. I personally, would not buy this car due to the extensive rust repair you will get into. I would search for a car in a much sunnier climate like Florida or So. California. You can sometimes get a low rust ( or no rust car ) for about 3-6K. If you think you can buy a rusty 914 and drop a few hundred on it and expect everything will be ok....you are in for the most expensive surprise in the world. I bough my 74 914 from Redlands, CA and had it trucked to my house in Wisconsin. It had no engine or trans...but the car was 100% rust free. I bought that car for $500 and paid more just getting it home. A lot of searching and research will pay off huge in the end! Be patient and do not buy the first 914 you see.

Take a look at my car now.

[terrymason]

I'm going to go look at the car tomorrow night, so will post more photos. I'm pretty set that I'll pass on the car, but I'd still like to take a look.

About the bondo - It would make your hair curl to see the size holes I've patched with it. A piece of duct tape on the back, then bondo over and hit it with some rattle can spray paint. It must be a jeep thing...

If anyone else is interested, I called the VA dmv, and talked to them. An antique is 25 years old or more, and do not require emmissions inspection, but they do require an inspection. Antique plates are only 13 dollars, but have restrictions (you can only drive 150 miles from home).


scott - my first jeep had a stop sign rivited to the driver side floor. You could see through from one quarter panel, and out the side of the other. At the time I just thought it was tuff looking.

Again, thank everyone for all the comments.

[terrymason]

QUOTE (Brando @ Nov 24 2005, 11:33 PM)

Smog requirements and they're at least 200lbs heavier (closer to 2400lbs stock). Think about it... you go from bumpers that wiegh at most 20lbs to bumpers that weight about 98lbs each, plus 5lbs per bumper shock, and the doors are heavier.

Are you able to put 73 / 74 bumpers on a 75 / 76? Having looked at both, I do like the older bumpers better. Are the older bumpers pretty expensive?

[JmuRiz]

Depends on what bumpers you want, if you are tracking the car you can go f-glass, if you want a painted bumper they aren'y much $$ either. But if you want some really nice Chrome bumpers they will cost you some money.
Like Jim said, check out the Hershey meet and/or the local swap meets. There are a lot of us around the area that can look at a car with you if you need. The best thing to do is just look at cars, you learn more from looking at them than anything else. You can come look at our cars and see various stages of niceness also.

Good luck, and nice to see another interested NoVA 914 person!

[1973914]

Do a search on "Hell Hole" then one on "Rust". (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/rolleyes.gif) This should give you a nice idea of what to look out for.

The thing about 914's that is very unlike your Jeep is that the whole car is basically an origame of sheetmetal. Two longitudes that like to rust are the main supports, but other than that it is all twists and bends. So you really cannnot just fiberglass things in and not expect the car to fall apart on you.

[dflesburg]

That car is crap.

[root]

Hi Terry,

root here!, we are neighbors, I live in Chantilly, VA.
Just finished restoring a '72 914.
Now I'm building a 2.0L to put in the 914.

If you want someone to go along and look at a 914
your interested in I'd be more-than-happy to help you
out.

My weekly routine is work during the day, play in the
garage at night, unless Chantilly High School Ice Hockey
Team has a game, then I'm there coaching them to victory.

I'm easy to contact:
Rod Rowland
work - 703 964 0400 x24 .... rowland@matsys.com
home - 703 802 4739 .... vwporsche@cox.net

Look forward to meeting you sometime!

Oh Yea!, pretty much, if you buy any neglected or otherwise abandoned 914 make sure you have the following 7 items on hand:

1. time
2. garage space
3. tools
4. $
5. burning desire to cut and weld metal
6. lots of beer

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/beer.gif)

[root]

oops!

7. jack stands


(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/sawzall-smiley.gif) (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/welder.gif) (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/beer3.gif) (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/smash.gif) (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/blowtorch.gif)